In Washington, law enforcement has apprehended two more teenagers in connection with a violent spree that left several men severely injured, including a former DOGE staff member known by the nickname ‘Big Balls.’
Laurence Cotton-Powell, aged 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, were taken into custody last week. They face charges of attempted carjacking, robbery, and assault following a series of crimes that culminated in the brutal assault of two men.
U.S. Attorney for DC, Jeanine Pirro, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “We are leaving no stone unturned to bring to justice criminals who perpetrate random, unprovoked, and brutal attacks on people who are unlucky enough to be in their path.”
One of the victims, Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old former DOGE employee sometimes referred to by his high school nickname ‘Big Balls,’ was attacked by approximately ten individuals in the early hours of August 3.
Authorities revealed that prior to targeting Coristine and his companion, Cotton-Powell, Taylor, and a large group of unidentified assailants had already assaulted another man at a gas station. According to a statement from Pirro’s office, “Cotton-Powell allegedly stomped on the victim’s head, and Taylor participated in the assault.” The victim managed to escape momentarily, but the group pursued him, continued their attack, and ultimately robbed him of his watch and one shoe.
‘Cotton-Powell allegedly stomped on the victim’s head, and Taylor participated in the assault,’ the office said in a press release. ‘The victim briefly escaped, but group members followed and knocked him to the ground and continued their attack. They robbed the victim of his watch and one of his shoes.’
Less than ten minutes later, the duo and their group attempted to carjack Coristine and his date.
The woman Coristine was defending from the hoard of violent kids was able to get into the vehicle and lock it before the youths allegedly began banging on the car and trying to gain entry and take the key, according US District Attorney for DC.
Trump announced his DC crime crackdown shortly after former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine was beat up during an attempted carjacking in the district in early August. Four teenagers have been arrested so far in the case, two additional arrests were announced this week
Coristine’s beating was mentioned repeatedly by President Trump when he announced his D.C. crime crackdown, which included deploying the National Guard
Images of Coristine with blood strewn across his body and clothes quickly went viral online after the attack, in part, leading to President Donald Trump’s use of the National Guard in the district to tackle crime.
Both Cotton-Powell and Taylor admitted to authorities that they participated in both the gas station assault and the attack on the former DOGE staffer.
Last week, a boy and a girl, both 15, were arrested, charged, and sentenced to probation for taking part in the beating.
President Donald Trump noted at the time it was a ‘terrible’ decision by the judge not to imprison the 15-year-olds.
‘I think the judge should be ashamed of himself, Trump told reporters while sitting in the Oval Office.
Coristine’s beating deeply moved the president, who mentioned the former DOGE staffer on social media while suggesting changes to D.C. to lessen crime, such as lowering the age needed for youths to be tried as adults.
Since Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in D.C. to tackle crime, local police stats show a meaningful drop in violent incidents.
The success has been so drastic that the Democrat-led city has embraced the Republican president’s National Guard deployment. City leaders approved an extension of the troops’ deployment earlier this year, and they are expected to stick around until at least the end of November.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro speaks during a press conference to provide an update on the latest arrest in the assault of former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine, at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., October 20, 2025
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith also celebrated the teenager’s arrest
However, there are currently plans to extend the National Guard’s orders to stay in D.C. until late next year.
Interim commander of the D.C. National Guard General Leland Blanchard said in a September 17, 2025 message to generals from other states that he instructed National Guard forces currently in the District to ‘work quickly toward ‘wintering’ our formation.’
Blanchard later said the troops may stick around until America’s 250th birthday celebrations in the district next summer.
‘That will be a factor in determining the future of the mission,’ he wrote of the upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
Blanchard’s correspondence was included in a Friday court filing in D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s case against the Trump administration, arguing for the end of National Guard presence in the District.
